UP student councils grapple with vacancies, low voter turnout

Student councils across the University of the Philippines (UP) System are left with unfilled positions, raising concerns about genuine student representation.

On the first day of the 57th General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) held at UP Tacloban on Aug. 15, various student councils (SC) reported low election turnout and the lack of students assuming council posts.

Among them was UP Los Baños SC with 56 vacant seats, including their Graduate School SC with 12 positions unfilled and College of Development Communication SC with nine vacancies.

Malaki pa rin ‘yung hamon sa atin na magpakilos pa ng mga estudyante natin at mas malubog sa mga campaigns upang maintindihan din nila yung paglahok sa mga ganitong activities,” the council said in their unit report.

UP Open University (UPOU) also faced challenges with diminished student interest in council roles, having only five of 14 USC positions filled.

Sobrang baba ng voter turnout na nagaganap, malaking challenge ito sa aming CU [constituent unit] dahil ito ay nagp-pose ng problems sa leadership,” the council said.

To address this, they plan to empower the students through social media and educational discussions.

UP Mindanao USC also observed a long-term decline in candidates running for council positions, with only four out of six USC candidates elected this year.

Meanwhile, UP Manila (UPM) USC reported 55 vacancies in their student councils, with only three officers in their student council.

The Malayang Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UPM School of Health Sciences (MAKASAMA UPM SHS) likewise faced challenges with only two candidates running for chair and vice chair in the recent elections, following over a year of no candidacy.

Similarly, after no candidates ran in their latest elections, the UP Tacloban SC underscored the administration’s lack of consultation with the students, noting that campus officials scheduled election day after the semester classes ended.

So kung magkakaroon man ng miting de avance o debates para sa mga tatakbo, most likely hindi magp-participate ‘yung student body kasi wala na sila sa paaralan, which is very sad,” they said.

On the other hand, despite launching online and face-to-face voting precincts, UP Diliman (UPD) failed to elect a USC last May after more students chose to abstain. This year’s polls also recorded the lowest voting turnout in a regular election since 2000.

READ: USC seats left vacant as abstentions prevailed anew

No candidates also ran in some UPD local college councils such as the College of Architecture and School of Statistics.

READ: Lack of student council candidates continues

In contrast, UP Visayas (UPV) USC reported that all of their college local councils have elected officers and standard bearers.

Although the UPV USC is still six councilors short, the council believes this will not impede their student campaigns.

Hindi [ito] nakikitang hadlang sa pagsulong natin ng mga kampanyang estudyante dahil ang ating mga local college council ay masasabi nating well-capacitated ngayong start ng academic year,” UPV USC said.